There are moments within our lives that define us.In this short story we witness some of these events in the life of eight year old Temperance Levinthal, when she is forced to face school yard bullies, town gossips and a mother, devastated by circumstance.Temperance Levinthal is the main character in the novel, Legend Unleashed by M. Latimer-Ridley, which is set fourteen years after this story.“When an infamous criminal is unleashed from his prison, it has consequences for everyone in Carwick. Temperance Levinthal in particular…Temperance is satisfied with her ordinary life. Dealing with her eccentric, childlike parents is all the excitement she needs. That changes when Alastair Byron returns home.After a failed matchmaking attempt by her father, sparks fly between her and Alastair-just not the good kind.They are forced together though, when they are implicated in a grisly murder. Their search for the truth leads them to a secret world beneath Carwick, filled with werewolves, wizards and other magical faey.However, uncovering the truth is far more dangerous than they’d ever imagined.There are secrets within secrets.Even Alastair may be more than he seems…” Views: 559
Weird things tend to happen when you live in a haunted house — not that author/ghost hunter Alice Carpenter has a problem disciplining her ten paranormal boarders. When cousin Katy calls for help with Sir Gary, the resident ghost at Espirt d'Chene near Jefferson, Alice comes to the rescue, but not before Katy discovers another dead person, a headless corpse in her swimming pool.Weird things tend to happen when you live in a haunted house — not that author/ghost hunter Alice Carpenter has a problem disciplining the ten resident ghosts in her lakeside log cabin near forgotten-time Six Gun,, Texas. When her cousin Katy calls looking for help with the resident ghost at Espirt d'Chene, the family mansion near Jefferson, Alice agrees to come to the rescue.Sir Gary Gavin, dead now over two hundred years, insists Alice is the only one who can expose his undeliberate murder to allow him to leave his tortured existence; and he's not above wreaking havoc at Espirt d'Chene until Alice concedes to his demands. Before Alice can even pack, though, Katy discovers a new murder — a headless corpse floating in her swimming pool. This new ghost — Bucky, the black-sheep son of a Texas senator — is dangerous in his newly-dead, confused state as he searches the plantation for his head.Alice must somehow uncover the identity of Bucky's murderer, or else it looks like Katy will be charged with the crime, despite several other suspects who have motives for wanting Bucky dead. To make matters worse, the homicide detective in charge, Alice's ex-husband Jack, doesn't believe in ghosts. That leaves Alice no choice but to depend on her ghost hunting mentor, Twila, and her elderly neighbor, Granny, to assist in the investigation.Katy is arrested, and there's no help for it: Sir Gary's going to have to join the investigation. Much to Jack's dismay — and the delight of the women — he is finally forced to admit that Sir Gary is real. A real ghost, anyway. Together, the unlikely team of sleuths join forces to help send Sir Gary to his deserved reward, track down the real killer, and set Katy free. Views: 559
Jez Redfern is unique. She's a vampire hunter. . . who's half vampire. Raised in the Redfern family, the girl with fiery hair and silvery-blue eyes was the undisputed leader of a gang of vampire raiders. Then came the discovery that shattered her life - her mother was a human. Now, Jez hunts her former friends, protecting humans from the Night World. But when Circle Daybreak sends her on a search for one of the legendary Wild Powers, Jez has to rejoin her old gang. They want her back -- especially Morgead, the gorgeous green-eyed vampire who used to be her second-in-command. Jez wants to stay faithful to Hugh Davis, the human she loves. But Morgead swears he's her soulmate and he'll do anything to lure her back to the old ways. With danger and temptation around, Jez finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. And she's afraid that if she tastes blood again, she'll become the evil huntress she once was. . . Views: 558
A JumpSail breakdown after the battle at First Severnaya Zemlya and strands CS-405 deep behind enemy lines. One barely-armed scout corvette must cross Buran's star empire to make it home. But first, they need to commit a little piracy. Part of the Alexandria Station universe and the first novel in the CS-405 trilogy, this exciting romp follows St. Legier (The Jessica Keller Chronicles volume 7) and introduces you to the warriors of Jessica's least-dangerous warship. Just don't tell them that. Also be sure to pick up the other novels in the trilogy: Packmule and Persephone. Views: 558
Elaina Johnson was born with a vision of her own death. It was something she had accepted, but as the end moves closer, she learns that seeing and knowing are far different things.This is a short story of approximately 3600 words. Additional content includes a free three chapter preview of Bound by Prophecy.Waking up locked inside a container is something Vivian was not expecting. She knows she died before she could complete her previous mission, but why was she put inside the container?However, once she frees herself, she learns that people are not only living underground, but in an isolated town outside, where the air was pronounced to be toxic. But this town has been around for years, so who are these people? Once Vivian gets involved with them, she can't pull herself out. Someone from her past is right around the corner. Views: 558
Enrich any bible study, youth group or sermon with this series of dramatic adaptations featuring the bad girls and bad boys of the Bible sure to promote discussion, thought and spiritual reflection.Enrich any bible study, youth group or sermon with this series of dramatic adaptations featuring the bad girls and bad boys of the Bible sure to promote discussion, thought and spiritual reflection. Using a creative mix of humor and very real emotions, these fresh retellings of familiar stories offer new perspectives, different settings and modern language making the stories easier to relate to for church audiences of all ages. Told through diary entries, the evening news, interviews, email exchanges and more! A few are even drama-ready for aspiring thespians to act out during services or youth groups. Discussion questions accompany each text to dive deep into the Scripture. Whether you’re looking to enliven your services or get your youth more involved or just foster a discussion, these adaptations have something for everyone! Includes: Delilah & Samson, Pilate, Jacob, Eve, Cain, Mary and Judas Views: 558
Brought onto the investigation to explore all the leads no one expected to pan out, Officer Morgan finds himself on the trail of the mysterious and elusive Dolls. It's a lead that takes him into a world far stranger and more real than he had ever imagined and into something far more dangerous than he had bargained for.Officer Morgan never expected to find anything like this when he joined the investigation. No one had anticipated the big gangs and mobsters leaving town, or that the occult community would start handing out strange warnings. Finally they cornered some of the areas criminal middle men, only to find that the two groups were saying some strangely similar things. "Something big is coming into town. Lay low or get out." Then the bodies started to pile up. Morgan has started poking around where no one else thought there were any answers to find, and found himself in the middle of something far stranger and more dangerous than he could have imagined. Views: 558
Derek will rip Caleb's heart out the moment he lays eyes on him for what he's done.
Rose is convinced that the vampire is innocent. But my daughter has been fooled. Nobody but Caleb could have stolen away our dear friend.
I gaze out at the dark waters rushing past us in the submarine, as we speed closer and closer toward our destination...
Are you ready to once again lose yourself in The Shade? Views: 558
The first in The Eighth City Series, A Torch in the Darkness is the start of Sebastian's journey into the Below, a refuse heap beneath the Eighth City where only the most vicious survive.The story follows Sebastian as he attempts to discover what happened to his parents and what his strange dreams mean. Caught in the middle of powerful forces, he is left to find his own way in a dangerous world.This is the fourth poetry book by Olusheyi Banjo.This book is also a sequel to "Choose The Stars." In this book Olusheyi explores through poetry the darker side of life and the univers Views: 558
It's been a difficult year for Abilene Collins. Since her father's death, her whirlwind life of adventure and travel has come to an end.Now, she's living with her mysterious uncle. He's a man with secrets, living almost alone in a ridiculously large mansion that he doesn't own. He doesn't like questions, and when Lena starts asking, it isn't hard to tell that he's hiding family secrets.It's been a difficult year for Abilene Collins. Since her father's death, her whirlwind life of adventure and travel has come to an end.Now, she's living with her mysterious uncle. He's a man with secrets, living almost alone in a ridiculously large mansion that he doesn't own. He doesn't like questions, and when Lena starts asking after the enigma of his job, it isn't hard to tell that he's hiding some family secrets.Family portraits have been removed from the walls, and areas of the house are off limits. Some rooms even seem to have been walled off completely. No one will talk to her.The young and ambitious groundskeeper has become her only friend, and one day he tells her that she was stolen from her mother years before. Lena's family are all telepathic, and that isn't all. They're a religious pillar of the Silenti society. Her grandfather has used his religious standing to gain political power, decimating his rivals along with anyone who gets in his way. Suddenly thrust into a life of political plots and religious fanatics, Lena finds herself struggling to navigate her own life. Some people aren't fond of the Darays, and the family has nearly died out through assassination.It appears Lena is the latest target. Views: 557
Colonel Ridge Zirkander isn't the model of military professionalism - he has a tendency to say exactly what’s on his mind, and his record has enough demerits to wallpaper the hull of an airship - but as the best fighter pilot in the Iskandian army, he’s used to a little leniency from his superiors. Until he punches the wrong diplomat in the nose and finds himself issued new orders: take command of a remote prison mine in the inhospitable Ice Blades Mountains. Ridge has never been in charge of anything larger than a flier squadron — what’s he supposed to do with a frozen fortress full of murderers and rapists? Not to mention the strange woman who shows up right before he arrives...
Sardelle Terushan wakes from three hundred years in a mage stasis shelter, only to realize that she is the last of the Referatu, the sorcerers who once helped protect Iskandia from conquerors. Their subterranean mountain community was blown up in a treacherous sneak attack by soldiers who feared their power. Everyone Sardelle ever knew is dead, and the sentient soulblade she has been bonded to since her youth is buried in the core of the mountain. Further, what remains of her home has been infested by bloodthirsty miners commanded by the descendants of the very soldiers who destroyed her people.
Sardelle needs help to reach her soulblade — her only link to her past and her last friend in the world. Her only hope is to pretend she’s one of the prisoners while trying to gain the commander’s trust. But lying isn't her specialty, especially when the world has changed so much in the intervening centuries, and if Colonel Zirkander figures out who she truly is, he’ll be duty-bound to sentence her to the only acceptable punishment for sorcerers: death. Views: 557
In DESTINED (Book #4 in the Vampire Journals), Caitlin Paine wakes to discover herself back in time. She finds herself in a cemetery, on the run from a mob of villagers, and seeks refuge in the ancient cloisters of Assisi, in the countryside of Umbria, Italy. There, she learns of her destiny and her mission: to find her father and the ancient vampire Shield needed to save mankind.
But Caitlin’s heart still pines for her lost love: Caleb. She desperately needs to know if he has survived their trip back in time. She learns that her mission requires her to go to Florence, but if she wants to pursue matters of the heart, she must go to Venice. She chooses Venice.
Caitlin is overwhelmed at what she finds. Venice of the eighteenth century is a surreal place, men and women dressed in elaborate costumes and masks, celebrating an endless, lavish party. She is thrilled to discover and reunite with some of her close friends, and to be welcomed back into their coven. And she is excited to join them in Venice’s Grand Ball, the most important costume dance of the year, where she hopes, once again, to find Caleb.
But Caitlin is not the only one who can travel back in time: Kyle soon arrives, too, and is determined to hunt her down and kill her once and for all. Sam, too, arrives, determined to save his sister before it is too late.
At the Ball, Caitlin searches everywhere, and finds no sign of Caleb. That is, until the very last dance. She dances with a masked man who takes her heart away, and she feels certain that it is him. But as the partners change, she loses him again. Or does she?
Caitlin soon finds herself torn between the two loves of her life, and discovers that she has to be careful what she wishes for. Her joy at finding what she wants might just come mixed with tragedy and heartbreak.
In a climactic, action-packed ending, Caitlin finds herself up against true evil, Rome’s ancient vampire coven, and the most powerful vampire coven that ever existed. Surviving will demand all her skills, as she finds herself battling for her very life. She will have to sacrifice more than ever, if she is to save the one she loves….
DESTINED is Book #4 in the Vampire Journals (following TURNED, LOVED and BETRAYED), and yet it also stands alone as a self-contained novel. DESTINED is over 60,000 words. Views: 557
A young rogue named Hemlock fights crime in her rundown neighborhood, which lies at the fringe of a magical city. Her sister relies on magical healing, and the spells are failing. When Hemlock confronts the wizards by breaking into their tower, events are set into motion that determine the destiny of the entire realm. Her adventure features brutal combat, cunning politics and tragic romance.How is power gained, retained and exercised; and what happens to a power structure when a young girl with magical abilities hacks and slashes her way into the very core of its apparatus?In a magical city that travels through multiple dimensions, a young girl named Hemlock has risen from being a lowly cutpurse to discovering that she is a powerful fighter. Under the guidance of an aging freedom fighter named Safreon, Hemlock battles to keep the peace in her run-down district, while across the City the upper class Elites enjoy peace, prosperity and freedom.The Wizard Tower looms in the center of the City, casting a long shadow over its affairs. The Wizards rule behind the scenes, dictating and controlling the use of magic. Hemlock instinctively feels that the Wizards are her enemies, but Safreon will not discuss openly opposing them, as he seeks to methodically mentor Hemlock, and advance his own cryptic plans for the City.Hemlock makes a decision to make a bold attack on the Wizard Tower alone, convinced that she can destroy or undo whatever method the Wizards are using to control and ration magic. As the novel opens, we join Hemlock just after she has infiltrated the Wizard Tower, learning what happens through a narrative interspersed with flashbacks to events leading up to the attack.This is a complete, standalone story; but interested readers can continue to follow Hemlock's adventures in The Maker's Fire series. Hemlock and the Dead God's Legacy (Book II) and Hemlock and the Dread Sorceress (Book III) are both available now! Views: 557
At Mountford University, Ranik Mason is the king of bad boys. He’s got every cheerleader dying to be in his bed, and the underage booze-circuit under his thumb. He’s a lone wolf who takes what he wants, but never takes anything seriously.
At Mountford University, Alice Wells is the queen of nerds - studious, strict, and smart as a whip, she’s never had a boyfriend, let alone gotten drunk or partied. She’s an ice-cold teacher’s pet, determined to stick to rules and regulations if it kills her. Her one weakness is her massive crush on Theo, the mature, gorgeous campus DJ, and she’s determined to transform into the girl he wants.
If anyone on campus knows how to seduce, it’s Ranik Mason. Alice approaches him with a contract – teach her how to win Theo, and she’ll do his coursework for a year. Ranik agrees, but as his lessons for Alice heat up, both of them start to realize love isn’t something you can teach.
There’s a price. And both Alice and Ranik have to pay. Views: 557
